Tottenham Hotspur's women's side may have flown under the radar during the pre‑season buzz, which largely focused on Manchester City’s bid to retain the WSL crown and the prospects of the newly assembled London City squad. While the headlines were elsewhere, Spurs quietly continued the work laid out by Martin Ho last term, reinforcing a foundation that is already bearing fruit. A key figure in that ongoing development is Danish forward Olivia Holdt.
The 2025 January signing arrived under the guidance of then‑manager Robert Vilahamn, who immediately labelled her the team’s "X‑factor" and hinted that she possessed the qualities to become one of the league’s elite performers. Those lofty compliments carried weighty expectations, and Holdt has begun to validate them, even if she does not dominate every news bulletin.
The Danish international opened the current campaign with a striking hat‑trick in a 7‑0 demolition of Crystal Palace – a result Holdt herself called "special". That victory helped Spurs maintain an unbeaten record in the WSL, leaving them perched in second place, three points adrift of Manchester City and a single point ahead of the weekend’s opponents, the high‑profile London City. "It’s still early days, there are plenty of games left and it will be a long season, but so far things are looking very positive," Holdt told Sky Sports ahead of the Sunday fixture. "No one is complaining that we’re second at the moment – we’re delighted with our position and it feels earned because our performances have been strong in the opening matches." She added: "I’m looking forward to Sunday.
It will be interesting to face London City. They have invested heavily this season and brought in a number of quality players.
It should be a good game, and we hope to keep our momentum going and collect three points again." The outcome of that clash could shape Tottenham’s final standing in May, as could the two subsequent fixtures after the international break when they meet Chelsea and Arsenal in back‑to‑back league encounters. Those matches will provide a clearer picture of where the Spurs women’s side truly stands among the league’s traditional powerhouses.
Spurs have already demonstrated a potent attacking edge, having netted the most goals in the competition – fifteen so far – while conceding only two. Their style blends dominant possession with rapid, forward‑driving play.
If they can sustain this output across the next three games and remain within the top three, their claim as genuine title contenders will be hard to dismiss. "Scoring fifteen goals in four games is impressive for any individual, but it shows how well we have gelled as a unit," Holdt explained. "We don’t focus on who scores; we just want to win 7‑0 or 4‑0.
Everyone contributes, and if we keep this up, many players will add a goal or two to their tally. The primary aim is three points; who appears on the scoresheet is secondary." She continued, "The upcoming fixtures will be a good test. No disrespect to the teams we have already faced – we expected to take three points from those games. Facing Chelsea and Arsenal will let us gauge our level and see how we stack up against the very best.
It’s a step up." "Those clubs have dominated for years, but when we meet them this season I believe we can hold our own and give them a strong performance," Holdt added. Holdt has been one of the most reliable performers under Ho’s management and finished last season as Spurs’ leading scorer, with ten goals in all competitions and eight in the league. Their partnership appears mutually beneficial, contributing significantly to the team’s resurgence. "Martin is an excellent coach and has helped me raise my game in the league," the Denmark international said.
"He knows how to instil confidence and energy in the squad, and we also share a good rapport off the pitch." She highlighted the importance of honesty: "We respect each other. I can challenge him, and he can challenge me. That openness is why it works – Martin tells me the hard truth, and I’m straightforward with him.
Sometimes it gets heated, but we both want the best for each other, and that mutual respect is key." While Holdt has primarily operated on the right wing, she notes that this season she has drifted more centrally compared with the previous year and is happy to occupy any role Ho deems appropriate. "Since joining Spurs I’ve been used in several positions. We’re still figuring out where I can add the most value and where I can get the best out of myself," she said.
"Ultimately Martin makes the decisions – if he wants me on the right, I’ll do that; if he wants me as a number ten, I’ll embrace it; if he asks me to play on the left, I’ll give it my all." "I see myself as a versatile attacker, so my exact spot on the pitch isn’t as important as the overall game plan and the quality of teammates around me," Holdt added. "Being able to operate in different areas can confuse opponents – they never know where I’ll appear." Spurs will be hoping that this flexibility and collective confidence will continue to disrupt the established WSL hierarchy in the weeks ahead. Fans can catch the Tottenham versus London City Lionesses clash live on Sky Sports Football at 2 pm on Sunday, with highlights and in‑game clips available shortly after full‑time on Sky’s digital platforms.
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